Lakeland to Celebrate Florida's 500th Anniversary With Bash Downtown

Monday

Apr 1, 2013 at 12:01 AMApr 2, 2013 at 3:05 AM

Viva Florida 500, a statewide commemoration of the state's 500th anniversary with a nod to its Spanish roots, gets local Sunday with a noon parade in downtown Lakeland, followed by a block party on Pine Street.

By ERIC PERATHE LEDGER

LAKELAND | There will be dancing in the streets. Latin style.Viva Florida 500, a statewide commemoration of the state's 500th anniversary with a nod to its Spanish roots, gets local Sunday with a noon parade in downtown Lakeland, followed by a block party on Pine Street.Grand marshal of the parade, a first of its kind, is Tito Puente Jr., a Miami musician and recording artist whose late father was considered king of mambo. Also expected to join in the parade are students at the Central Florida Aerospace Academy in Lakeland and members of the Latin American Motorcycle Association.The ensuing party will feature live reggaeton, a unique blend of Latin and Caribbean music that was birthed in Puerto Rico. Dance instructors will give lessons in salsa and other Latin styles."It's really a celebration of who we are and the diversity that's in the state," said Ana Rivera, president and founder of the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Polk County and organizer of the celebration.The Viva Florida 500 initiative focuses attention on the state's cultural heritage and ties to Spain and many of its former colonies, including Puerto Rico.Local events include an exhibit of artifacts related to 16th-century conquistadors at the Polk History Center in Bartow. Now open, the exhibit runs through April 20.Christopher Columbus, an Italian, gets credit for discovering the Americas, but his initial voyage in 1492 was financed by Spain.Juan Ponce de Leon of Spain, a protege of Columbus, continued to explore much of the Caribbean and Central and South America. He was the first Spanish explorer to set foot in Florida on or about April 3, 1513.Historians are unclear as to the exact landing site, but he and his crew most likely hit the beach somewhere between present-day St. Augustine, founded in 1565, and Melbourne Beach. He named the island La Florida, or place of flowers.The parade begins at Pine Street and Massachusetts Avenue, making its way back to Pine Street and Tennessee Avenue.

[ Eric Pera can be reached at eric.pera@theledger.com or 863-802-7528. ]